Highchair

ABSTRACT

A highchair comprising a lifting means and a foldable leg frame is disclosed. The lifting means includes an operating rod, an outer tube and a piston rod. The operating rod can be easily operated by single hand pressing or foot tramping to adjust the height of the highchair. The leg frame comprises an upper pivoting portion, a lower pivoting portion and a plurality of sub-legs. Each sub-leg includes a first branch leg and a second branch leg pivotally connected to the upper and lower pivoting portion respectively. The upper pivoting portion is fixed on the outside of the outer tube of the lifting means. The lower pivoting portion is fixed on a lower portion of a sliding sleeve and can slide together with the sliding sleeve. With the axial sliding of the sliding sleeve on the outer tube, the leg frame can be folded into the minimum volume.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a multi-function highchair. More specifically, the present invention relates to an infant highchair configured to adjust the height thereof easily and can be folded into a minimum volume.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Since the bones of an infant are suppler, the infant should be hold by an adult or supported on a highchair to keep safety. However, long-term holding will produce the fatigue of the adult. Although the highchair can support the weight of the infant, the height of the highchair needs to be adjusted frequently to correspond to the growing up of the infant. Further, when dining out, it is very troublesome to bring the highchair out otherwise it is necessary to request a height-fixed highchair from the restaurant. Therefore, there is an increasing desire for an infant highchair capable of adjusting the height thereof easily and bringing out conveniently.

[0003]FIG. 1 shows a conventional infant highchair. In general, the leg frame is configured to form an inverted-V shape or L shape. The height-adjusting means is a locking slot. During the height adjustment, a user needs to press buttons (not shown) on both sides of the height-adjusting means 120 so as to move a sleeve 100 up and down along the leg tubes 110 whereby achieving the height adjustment of the infant highchair. However, sometimes the user holds something and thus both hands are not available to operate the height-adjusting means, therefore, the user must place the infant on the highchair first and put aside the stuff on hands so that the height adjustment can be achieved by both hands. Such a procedure is very inconvenient. Besides, the height adjustment would be more laborious due to the total weight of the infant plus the highchair itself.

[0004] Further, conventional highchairs also have a drawback that they can not be detached and folded into a minimum volume so that it is very inconvenient in storage and conveyance due to the bulky structure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In view of the above drawbacks of conventional infant highchairs, the present invention is achieved by the diligence and experience of the applicant. The object of this invention is to provide an improved highchair which can be operated by single hand pressing or foot tramping with less labor and also can be detached and folded into a minimum volume. Further, this invention is very convenient in conveyance and storage because it occupies the least space.

[0006] The highchair of this invention comprises a lifting means and a foldable leg frame. The lifting means includes an operating rod, an outer tube and a piston rod. The top end of the piston rod is provided with a pair of holes for inserting a pin therein whereby the piston and a seat base can be connected together. The periphery of the piston rod is provided with a telescopic sheath, like bellows, for covering the piston rod so as to offer an elegant appearance to the highchair. The operating rod is formed into an elongated C shape so that it can be easily operated by single hand pressing or foot tramping.

[0007] The leg frame comprises an upper pivoting portion, a lower pivoting portion and a plurality of sub-legs. Each sub-leg includes a first branch leg and a second branch leg pivotally connected to the upper and lower pivoting portion respectively. The free end of each sub-leg is provided with a rolling wheel to slide on the ground. The upper pivoting portion is fixed on the outside of the outer tube of the lifting means. The lower pivoting portion is fixed on a lower portion of a sliding sleeve and can slide together with the sliding sleeve. With the axial sliding of the sliding sleeve on the outer tube, the folding of the leg frame is achieved. The bottom of the outer tube is provided with a locking plastic in the form of a hollow cylinder. The periphery of the locking plastic is provided with four engaging tabs for engaging the lower pivoting portion.

[0008] As for the lifting means of the highchair of this invention, an air pressure or hydraulic piston can be used. Therefore, even an infant sits on the highchair of this invention, it can be operated with less labor. Further, since the highchair of this invention can be operated by single band pressing or foot tramping, the height of the highchair of this invention can be easily adjusted even the user holds something on hands. In the highchair of this invention, the volume thereof can be reduced to the minimum due to the foldable leg frame and thus it occupies less space. The seat body and the piston rod of the lifting means can be detachably assembled together by the pin and thus it is very easy to detach and convey. Also, the leg frame is provided with a plurality of sub-legs for firmly standing on the ground when completely unfolding.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The structure, features and functions of this invention will be described in detail with reference to the following description together with the accompany drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional infant highchair;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the unfolding state of the leg frame and the ascending state of the piston rod of the highchair of this invention, in which the portion of the seat is depicted in dotted lines;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the folding state of the leg frame and the descending state of the piston rod of the highchair of this invention, in which the portion of the seat is omitted;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view showing the completely unfolding state of the leg frame in which the piston rod of the highchair of this invention ascends to the highest top;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing the completely folding state of the leg frame in which the piston rod of the highchair of this invention descends to the lowest bottom;

[0015]FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional side view showing the inner structure of the locking plastic and the engaging tabs of this invention;

[0016]FIG. 7a is a schematic cross sectional view showing the structure inside the lifting means when the piston ascends by means of the operating rod of this invention;

[0017]FIG. 7b is a schematic cross sectional view showing the structure inside the lifting means when the operating rod is in a locking position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] This invention will be described with reference to the accompany drawings and a hydraulic cylinder is used to be an embodiment of the lifting means in the highchair of this invention. The seat portion is not the feature of this invention and thus is omitted in the specification for simplicity.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 5, the highchair of this invention mainly includes a lifting means and a leg frame. The lifting means comprises an operating rod 10, an outer tube 12 and a piston rod 14. The top end of the piston rod 14 is provided with a pair of holes 18 for inserting a pin (not shown) therein whereby connecting the piston rod 14 and the seat base 2 together. The periphery of the piston rod 14 is provided with a telescopic sheath 16 for extending or retracting along with the ascending or descending of the piston rod 14. The telescopic sheath 16 covers the piston rod 14 so as to give an elegant appearance to the highchair. The leg frame comprises an upper pivoting portion 20, a lower pivoting portion 24 and a plurality of sub-legs. The upper pivoting portion 20 is fixed to the outside of the outer wall 12 of the lifting means at a position slightly lower than the operating rod 10. The lower pivoting portion 20 is fixed to a sliding sleeve 27 for sliding axially along the periphery of the outer tube 12 thereby folding or unfolding the leg frame. The leg frame is provided with a plurality of sub-legs. In one preferred embodiment of this invention, the number of the sub-legs is six. However, the number of the sub-legs is not limited to six and can be three, four, five, six or more as long as the leg frame can firmly stand on the ground when unfolding. Each sub-leg is provided with a first branch leg 25 and a second branch leg 26. The first branch leg 25 is pivotally connected to the upper pivoting portion 20 at a first pivoting point 21, the first branch leg 25 is pivotally connected to the second branch leg 26 at a second pivoting point 22 and the second branch leg 26 is pivotally connected to the lower pivoting portion 24 at a third pivoting point 23 so as to form a link structure. The free end of each sub-leg is provided with a rolling wheel 28 for sliding on the ground.

[0020] Next, the folding and unfolding actions of the leg frame will be described. With reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is shown the leg frame in an unfolding state. Since the first branch leg 25 and the second branch leg 26 is pivotally connected to the upper pivoting portion 20 and the lower pivoting portion 24 respectively, when the leg frame is unfolding, the first branch leg 25 expands outwardly to cause the sliding sleeve 27 to move upwardly until abut against the upper pivoting portion 20. At the same time, the lower pivoting portion 24 engages the engaging tabs 32 on the locking plastic 30 thereby forming a fixed unfolding state. When the leg frame is to be folded, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the user simply presses four engaging tabs 32 by his/her fingers so that the sliding sleeve 27 can slide downwardly along the outer tube 12 whereby folding all the sub-legs. The lower pivoting portion 24 covers the locking plastic 30 to complete the folding of the leg frame.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 6, the structure of the locking plastic 30 is shown as an annular cylinder. The peripheral surface of the locking plastic is provided with four engaging tabs. Each engaging tab 32 has a slope for abutting and stopping the lower pivoting portion. In order to decrease the material and in turn the total weight of the highchair, the outer diameter of the lower portion of the lifting means is narrowed (i.e. the diameter of the lower portion of the outer tube 12 is decreased) so that the narrowed outer diameter will be exactly equal to the inner diameter of the locking plastic 30. As a result, when the locking plastic 30 is fixed on the lower portion of the outer tube, only four engaging tabs 32 are slightly protruded without interfering with the folding of the lower pivoting portion 24. A plurality of radial reinforcing ribs 34 are provided between the inner diameter and outer diameter of the locking plastic 30 for decreasing the total weight while maintaining sufficient strength. Further, the structure of the reinforcing ribs also provides a space for the engaging tabs 32 bending inwardly. The bottom of the outer tube is flush with the locking plastic 30 and the locking plastic 30 can be firmly fixed on the outer tube 12 by some bolts (not shown).

[0022] Next, the operating principle of the lifting means will be described. The preferred embodiment of this invention is shown as a hydraulic cylinder. However, an air pressure cylinder can also be used. With reference to FIGS. 7a and 7 b, when the operating rod 10 is turned up and down, such action can cause the piston rod 14 in the hydraulic cylinder to ascend. The operating principle of the hydraulic cylinder is similar to that of a common hydraulic cylinder and thus omitted for simplicity. When the piston rod ascends to a suitable height, the user can turn the operating rod 10 upwardly to a locking position. Owing to the eccentric cam structure of the shaft of the operating rod, a locking block 15 in the piston cylinder can be abutted to lock the piston rod 14 so as to fix the height of the piston rod 14. At this time, the piston rod can not ascend or spin so that the undesired spinning of the highchair can be prevented. Similarly, when the piston rod 14 is to be descended, the user turns downwardly the operating rod from the locking position, the piston rod 14 can easily descend to the bottom by means of the weight of the infant or slight force applied by the user.

[0023] With the above structure, the highchair of this invention has many advantages over prior art. Since the operating rod 10 can be operated by single hand pressing or foot tramping, the height adjustment can be easily carried out even the user's hand is holding something. Further, the lifting means is activated by an air pressure or hydraulic cylinder, it can be operated with much less labor to overcome the total weight of the infant plus the highchair itself. Moreover, the speed of height-adjusting is very smooth and slow so that the infant sat therein will not be scared. When the height is achieved the desired position, the operating rod can be turned to the locking position to prevent the operating rod from moving vertically or spinning. Therefore, the undesired spinning of the highchair can be prevented.

[0024] Since the bottom of the highchair of this invention is provided with a foldable leg frame, it is very convenient to fold the highchair into the minimum volume.

[0025] Although this invention is described by one preferred embodiment, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the lifting means can be a hydraulic, air pressure or even screw lifting means. The number of the sub-legs is not limited to six. Any modification can be easily made on the material or structure of this invention by those skilled in this art after reviewing the specification. Therefore, such simple modification is still within the scope of the appended claims of this invention.

[0026] Finally, the applicant wants to emphasize that hydraulic or air pressure lifting means has never been used in an infant highchair even though these lifting means are conventional. Therefore, in view of the drawbacks of existing conventional highchairs, the applicant combines a hydraulic lifting means with a foldable leg frame to become a novel and improved highchair, which can be operated with less labor and folded into the minimum volume. This invention indeed has advantages over prior art in terms of the usage, conveyance and the convenience for carrying. This invention has novelty and inventive steps and thus can be granted a patent. 

1. (Cancelled)
 2. A highchair having a foldable leg frame, comprising: an upper pivoting portion fixed on the outside of the outer tube of the lifting means; a lower pivoting portion fixed on a sliding sleeve and axially movable along the outer tube; and a plurality of sub-legs, each sub-leg provided with a first branch leg and a second branch leg pivotally connected to the upper pivoting portion and the lower pivoting portion, wherein the sliding sleeve can axially slide on the outer tube so as to unfold or fold the leg frame.
 3. (Cancelled)
 4. (Cancelled)
 5. (Cancelled)
 6. (Cancelled)
 7. (Cancelled)
 8. (Cancelled)
 9. The highchair according to claim 2, wherein the leg frame has a plurality of sub-legs pivotally connected to the outer tube and the sliding sleeve in a link structure.
 10. The highchair according to claim 2, wherein the number of the sub-legs is at least three. 